peak time

We drove down to Castleton in the Peak District yesterday. Friends Dave & Emma had gathered about 30 of us to share New Years. It has been great fun - Rowan has bonded with Clare sp well that they set up their own room last night in the lounge. We all had a good relaxing wine- fuelled chat over dinner. Then today we climbed Mam Tor in the drizzle. Rowan was first to the top. We are now all drying off in the warm hostel

Scalextic

The snow has kept us local for the last couple of days. We walked across the moor yesterday which looked beautiful in the snow, en route to John and Heathers where John had set up a giant Scalextric set which Rowan loves [I put up with it...]. Today we head off for our New Years Eve stay at a youth hostel in the Peak District that Dave and Emma have organised, should be good, if we can get there through the snow.
The photo is of Rowan and Clara with a smiley face made out of Xmas detruits - they are trying anything to get another Blue Peter badge.

To Hull or not to

Our post-xmas chill out continues. Rowan and I made an Airfix model this morning, then this afternoon Danielle took Rowan and her friend Clara to see The Lion the witch and the wardrobe [or lerwerwer as it is known in our household] whilst I did some town-stuff. Friend Paul rang to see if I wanted to go and watch Ipswich play at Hull. Despite the low quality of the teams I was quite keen, but common sense [snow bound motorways etc] got the better of us in the end. The photo is of Fairfax House in York. The snow has fallen on and off all day, so we have a nice inch or two so far.

Snow?

Three Palmours, Three generations of bakers.

With snow imminent we decided to take mother back a day early and avoid any travel trouble. So I drove her back on Monday evening and came back this afternoon. The drive was Ok, and this morning I got a great walk in to Tackley and back in the crisp thinly snowed Oxfordshire countryside.

Peel

The photo is of mother and I at the restaraunt yesterday - taken by Rowan.
Rowan's absolute favorite present is not one of the pricey delights she got, but a pair of welly-warmer socks, which she wears all the time indoors as slippers... it is good to see. Danielle gave me the John Peel autobiography which I have started and been amazed to find that he stayed in the same house at Rhosneigr http://www.rhosneigr.org.uk/ in Angelsey Wales - the Red House - that we stayed at as a family for 3 or more years when I was a toddler.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas everyone. Danielle, Rowan and I went to meeting, which was very pleasant, then collected granny who was treating us to Christmas lunch at The Sidings restaurant. We feared the worse when we arrived to discover it had just changed hands. The whole place at the air of a business being filmed for a "fly on the wall" documentary. But, amazingly, it went really well. We all enjoyed the food, and they were really trying to please us as best they could. Phew...

Busy Day 2

Danielle and Rowan went a bike / run to the video shop to hire some films for xmas, I sorted out the garden. Yesterday Rowan and I ran the train around the rockery using a leaf blower that John has leant us [anyone would think she was going to get a new truck for the railway for xmas...] to clear the track.

Then we all went into town, met up with Jackie, Mike and daughter Helen [old friend of Rowan's from nursery] for a coffee then went to the crib service at the Minster. It gets bigger - about 1000 people there this year. Rowan liked it, even getting into giving one of her toys away to "those less fortunate". Then we had lunch, a quick rest [watching The Incredibles] and now are off to drinks at Paul and Jackie's then the Quaker candle lit carols at 7pm.

The Two Milkmen

It had always struck me as odd. The genial, chatty milkman who I see each fortnight when I pay the bill barely acknowledged me when I passed him in the street. I always assumed he either had his mind on the grim business of getting people to pay up, or else he did not recognise me out of my manor. But seeing as how he has been our milkman for over four years, it didn't quite make sense. Until today, when Danielle mentioned that they are twins.
The photo is of the trampoline in action at our party last weekend. It is a fantastic place to shove all the children.

Books I could read

Danielle gave me a copy of Tony Parsons "Stories we could tell" for my birthday. It is entertaining, and being written about a time that meant a lot to me, the music scene in 1977 and all that, was always going to be good fun. But it seems a bit too much part of the Tony Parsons / Julie Birchill mythology industry to me.

Yesterday mother rested while Rowan and I went to the National Railway Museum. It was nice and quiet. A new exhibit we tried out was a 700mph trip from London to Brighton rail simulator. Rowan loved it, I was a little wary. Good in retrospect though.

Book Group

Wildlife update. The goldfinches http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/goldfinch/index.asp are loving the nyger seed http://www.birdforum.net/archive/index.php/t-28304, we have 3 or 4 around the feeder pretty much all day. Today was book group - "Chronicle of A Death Foretold" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez which was short and brilliant http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140003471X/102-9836593-9588959?v=glance&n=283155 after that we had a game of Ex Libris http://www.spiritgames.co.uk/gamesin.php?UniqueNo=620 which was great fun, and very close with Heather emerging as the voctor. The photo is the last one from Preston

Social Activity

Last night I went to Joanna's 50th birthday party. We were friends at University [29 years ago]. These numbers take a bit of coming to terms with... It was great to catch up with her and various other people I have known over the years. Today was our Xmas drinks party - mulled wine, mince pies, trampoline [the usual stuff...] Went really well. Then just time to see a client about choice of portraits, before collapsing in front of Scrapheap Challenge with Rowan.
Photo is another from Preston.

Retreat

I spent the afternoon at the Retreat mental health hospital, where I may become a Director, if they want me. I enjoyed the meeting, and feel there is a lot to help them with... The photo is of Preston docks. When we were young' father would take us walking down here on Sunday afternoon, we could see the hooks that the banana bunches would be on as they were conveyered away from the boats to the warehouses. All different now.

Back Home

Had a relaxing day in Kirtlington, then drove Mother back up north. This photo is of the ramp by county offices in Preston, where my mother worked long long ago.

End of the Action Learning

Today was the last day of running the Action Learning Sets, it went very well. I have really enjoyed this bit of work, and hope it will be replicated in the new year. Now I am off to pick up Mother for Xmas. I return with the precious package tomorrow evening. The photo is another from Preston, this one of a Sustrans http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ cycle track signpost in Avenham Park.

Busy Day

Today was the kind of day that is great to look back on. At the time is felt one big rush, but with hindsight its been a good one.
Danielle was in London overnight, so I got Rowan off to school, then prepared for some consultancy work tommorow. Next step was a hard-fought game of badminton with Edward. Then off to Harrogate to photograph a new author that a publisher in London needs a photo of. Just time to get the Christmas tree before picking Rowan up from school [she had been to see Alice in Wonderland in Leeds with school http://www.wyplayhouse.com/events/event_details.asp?event_ID=463 ] . A quick tea for Rowan and I then George the babysitter arrived, then Danielle and we were off to see a lecture by our friend Jenny Zobel on songs of liberation. It was a great talk, and we caught up with a few people I hadn't seen for a while.

The photo is of Preston


http://www.michelebreeze.co.uk/page9.html

Preston weekend

For my birthday weekend we once again went to Preston. We had a great time again, visiting the docks [now a marina and steam railway] http://www.prestondocks.co.uk/ribble_steam.html , the Harris museum [photo] http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/museum_gfx_en/NW000085.html and the parks. On the Saturday evening we went to the Olive Press restraunt which is fantastic http://www.restaurant-guide.com/details/default.asp?rID=43120&ID=1780&path=12,16,122,1780&cuiID=32 and located in Winkley Square where my father had is office long ago.

Homeworkers Lunch

A friend, Helen, organised a group of home-workers to meet for a networking lunch last year. It went very well, so we met again today for an early christmas lunch. Around the table at the Slug and Lettuce were an author, two software developers, a couple of trainers, a masseur, a travel consultant and me and Danielle. It was good fun. The big question for all homeworkers is "what time do you put the heating on..."

The photo is of me aged 18.

York Cycling

I found this graph today. It gives a pretty good picture of why we like living here.

I am off to photograph a friend who is a cycling gardener this morning.

Birthday

The joy of a family birthday welcome this morning, tea in bed, presents given with much enthusiasm by Rowan, was interupted by my laptop crashing totally. After the PC crash last week this was not what was needed. I have to send it off to the manufacturers tommorow...

Off to Wakefield today to discuss some work with a client. It went really well, I look forward for tendering for the work.
The photo is of the mini-guitar Danielle and Rowan gave me for my birthday... with one of the donors

Leaf Time

The trees are finally loosing their leaves. The redwood decided to shower us with needles en-masse on Saturday, the willows are now denuded. I have a new way of dealing with them - I am sure it is not the right thing to do, but it seems to work. I let the lawn get covered with leaves then set the mower at a high level, then mow them. The result is some nicely chopped leaves mixed with grass which should be really good for the compost. And the lawn looks better.

The photo is of me and Bracken our yellow labrador, at Lytham.

Advent Calendar

Mother bought Rowan a cloth advent calendar 6 years ago. It is still going strong, Rowan loves it and religiously updates it each morning. A great relief not to have a load of chocolates hanging up on the wall. As well as that Mother also bought her a crib. Several years ago Rowan put her most cherished object in there with the baby Jesus - it was a model train [Rheneas from Thomas the Tank Engine]. Ever since the dear baby has to fight for room with the small red tank engine...

The photo is of my sister Rosemary and I. My first bike was a trike.

Webstar

Danielle was at a swanky do at the Guildhall last week http://www.ifslearning.com/events/financial_innovation_awards/index.cfm, and is on this website http://www.quakersocialaction.com/madeofmoney.htm to do with her work. Meanwhile Rowan went to a rollerblade party and enjoyed it.
The photo is of another Wolds shot from yesterday, this is the beautiful bridge over the swollen River Derwent at Kirkham Priory.

Great Ride

Dave and I went a great bike ride today. We drove to Kirkham Priory http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/priories/kirkham%20priory.htm then rode across the wet but delicately atmospheric Wolds to Wharram Percy http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.001002003005002003005 . At Thixendale http://www.driffield.co.uk/wolds_village_thixendale.htm the despair of the closure of the cyclists cafe was replaced by delight at finding the village hall serving tea and cakes. We got back wet and muddy, having had a great ride on tiny back lanes. The photo is of trees above the deep dry Thixendale valleys.

Bird Cake

Rowan and I made this bird cake from vegetarian lard, and lots of types of seeds and nuts. We then put it in an old yougurt pot. Only trouble was, the birds seemed scared off by the bright yogurt pot, so we scooped it out and they ate it off the bird table. Have also got some nyger seed which the goldfinches http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/goldfinch/index.asp enjoying.

Dark Despair of the Blue Screen

This is the winning Caterpillar...

Computers are great when they work. Our hard disk decided to de-partition and as a result we have lost everything, and have to re-load Windows on it etc. Tedious but in some ways it feels like a cleansing experience [wiping off all that unused software etc]. Anyway, it is now nearly sorted.